Apparatus for producing surgical splints or casts



p- P. o. SOLON 2,483,710

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SURGICAL SPLINTS OR CASTS Oct. 4, 1949.

Original Filed Sept. 23, 1946 INVENTOR. pix/4o 6, ja /m /MQZM/ Patented Oct. 4, 1949 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SURGICAL SPLINTS OR CASTS Philip 0. Solon, Oakland, Calif.

Original application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,836. Divided and this application November 26, 1946, Serial No. 712,273

3 Claims. 1

This application is a division of my co-pending application entitled Method for producing surgical splint or cast, filed September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,836, now abandoned.

This invention relates to the formation of surgical and like splints or casts, and particularly pertains to an apparatus for dispensing a strip of thermoplastic material and applying the same "to produce a splint or cast. I

In my prior application referred to I have disclosed animproved method and apparatus for expeditiously applying a muscle or bone immobilizing cast or bandage of minimum bulk and extremely light in weight, which bandage will be unaifected by water, conform to body contours,

and permit penetration of X-rays.

It is the object of my present invention to provide an improved and exceedingly simple and elfective applicator or dispenser, enabling expeditious formation of a rigid cast or splint from a strip of thermoplastic material.

The invention is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the method in forming a splint or cast for the human arm.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through an applicator or dispenser embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the applicator or dispenser.

Although herein I disclose my invention as applicable for use in forming rigid surgical splints or casts, I am aware that it is inherently capable of many other non-analogous uses, and the one here disclosed is by Way of example only.

In practicing my invention, I prefer to employ a strip of thermoplastic material, such as cellulose acetate, although various other thermoplastics may be used. The plastic is intended to be preformed in a comparatively thin strip, as illustrated in the drawings. This strip is softened by the application of heat thereto immediately prior to its application to form a body splint or cast. The contacting layers of the strip I intend to bond or fuse together by softening of the strip to a tacky state, and by the interposition between the layers of a solvent. In the event cellulose acetate is used as the material, this solvent may be polyhydric alcohol, although any other agent in which the plastic is soluble may be employed.

To effect heating of the strip to soften the same to a pliable condition, I provide an applicator or dispenser such as illustrated in the drawings.

This applicator comprises a casing I0 formed of a suitable thermosetting plastic or other suitable material having a chamber II formed therein to receive a roll I2 of the strip thermoplastic material I4. The chamber I I is adjacent one end of the device and there is formed longitudinally of the casing I0 a narrow passageway I5 extending tangentially from the chamber II through the opposite end of the casing. This passageway I5 is of a width and depth just sufficient to enable the strip I4 to be drawn longitudinally thereof with the sides of the strip I4 in light contact with the sides of the passageway l5.

At opposite sides of the passageway and along .one side of the chamber II are electrical resistance elements I6 and I! which are spaced from the passageway I5 by a suitable thickness of heat conducting material I8. Interposed between the resistance elements I6 and the casing I I! are noninflammable heat insulating layers I9. The resistance of the elements I6 and I1 is sufficient to generate sufiicient heat to soften the plastic strip I4 as the same is continuously withdrawn from the roll I2 through the passageway I5. I intend that the plastic strip I4 be heated to a degree sufiicient to render the same tacky and extremely pliable.

I prefer that the strip be perforated, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to form recesses for the reception of a solvent to aid in bonding superposed layers of the material together to form a rigid unitary structure.

The casing is fitted with a conventional form of terminals 20 electrically connected, of course, to the elements I6 and I1 so that current may be led thereto. A removable cover member 2| is provided for the casing II) to fit thereover and enclose the same.

By way of example, to practice my method in forming a surgical splint or cast, say on the human arm as illustrated, a strip of metal such as aluminum 22 may be laid lengthwise of the arm and then the strip I4 of plastic may be wound spirally over the arm and metallic strip 22, with the convolutions overlapping. As the winding progresses, solvent may be deposited in the perforations between the convolutions to fuse the convolutions together. The convolutions will also be firmly bonded together by the intimate contact between their tacky surfaces so as to form a rigid unitary splint or cast structure when the plastic cools and becomes hard.

If it is desired to remove the cast from the example shown in Fig. 1, a cut is made through the plastic down to the aluminum or metallic It is manifest that a cast so formed would be extremely rigid and have considerablestrength.

Also, it Would have but little bulk andfb'egex.

tremely light in weight, thus minimizing the discornfiture to the patient.

From the foregoing it is obvious' that: I have provided a very simple and effective device-i011 applying thermoplastic in strip form to produce an efiective splint or cast.

While I have showmthe preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construotion'by those skilled in the art without departing from. the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Having thus described. my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:-

.1. An applicator or dispenser for a thermoplastic strip comprising acasing having a chamber formed therein to receive a roll of plastic strip,

said casing having a passagewayof dimensions conforming to the dimensions: of the strip, said passageway leading from saidchamber through one end of the casing, and heating elements (adjacent said passageway to create suflicien-t heat as the strip is drawn through thepassageway to soften the same to aipliable condition.

:2. An-applicator and dispenser for a thermoplastic strip comprising a casing having a chamber therein to receive a roll of plastic strip, said casing having a passageway formed therein extending from said chamber through one end of the casing, the dimensions of the passageway conforming to the dimensions of the strip whereby thezlat'tenw'fll be tin: clbse'rn'ofimitw to the sides of thepassagewayas This led-from the chamber through the passageway, resistance elements disposed contiguous to the sides of the passagewayrtheresistanoe. of said elements bein such as tojsufiiciently heat said thermoplastic strip as it passes through the passageway to render the 'same-to'a pliable state.

3,.Anapplieatnr and dispenser for a thermostrip-comprising a casing having a chamber therein tomotatably receive a roll of plastic strip,,said casing having a passageway therein extending between said chamber and one end of the casing, and heating means mounted inv the "casing contiguous to the passageway to heat'said strip; sufliciently during its passage through said passageway so that it will be in a pliable condition as it emerges from the passageway.

PHILIP O. 'SOLON.

REFERENCES CITE-B The following references: areof record in. the file of this patent:

UNITED S'IA'IES'PATENTS Number Name Date 482,879 Purdy. Sept. 20,1892 1,092,909, Hardy 'Apr. 14, 1914 1,423,336 .Korittke- -Ju1y 18,, 199-2 2,107,603 Eilenberg Feb; .8, .1938 2,401,841 Singer June-i1, 719-16 

